Abstract
We present a theory for analyzing residence times of single molecules in a fixed detection area of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The approach is developed for one-dimensional molecule diffusion and can be extended to two dimensions by using the same methodology. Explicit results are derived for an harmonic attractive and repulsive tip-molecule interaction. Applications of the theory allows one to estimate the type and strength of interactions between the STM tip and the molecule. This includes the possibility of an estimation of molecule-molecule interaction when the tip is decorated by a molecule. Despite our focus on STM, this theory can analogously be applied to other experimental probes that monitor single molecules.
Publisher
The Electrochemical Society
Subject
Materials Chemistry,Electrochemistry,Surfaces, Coatings and Films,Condensed Matter Physics,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials